AHR Questions about a Bar?

We will be having our AHR on May 1st. The AHR will be at a family friends house (7000 sq feet w/a pool). So this is where my question's come in. How/ what do I do about a bar? My FI thought wine and a couple of Kegs, but the only thing is I don't drink wine or beer. I had thought about doing three signature drink, one with vodka, one with rum and the third would either be a tequila or whiskey drink and then Beer. FI is a little unsure about how that would get done which I am also. Do we hire people or what we are so lost with this? The cheapest rought would be to do wine and beer and just have a little something for me that noone knows about. I'm not really sure how you do a cash bar since it is at someones house. Please let me hear your thoughts on this.

I am having my AHR reception at a house as well and we are hiring a bartender for the night. (if this is an option you can ask around to see if anyone knows someone who wants to make a few bucks for the night). We are going to do our favorite drinks (mine is vodka and lemonade) and then have some other options. There is NO way we would be able to offer every drink so we are just going to have the basics (vodka, rum, tequila) and various juices/soda available to mix with them. We are also having beer, but I have not decided between bottles or a keg.

One other thought I had.... you could do a few signature drinks (which ever are your fav) and put them in larger drink dispensers. You can usually rent these pretty cheap and then people could serve themselves. It would give you another option and be pretty cheap. My AHR is pretty casual so I know my guests wouldn't mind serving themselves, but it depends on your preference.

We hired a bartender for the night, turned out great. Didn't have to worry about a thing. We purchased the ingredients that we needed for 3 drinks, tequila shots being the favorite of the night, and the bartender kept everything running all night. You can find a list of them in your area through craigslist.com I've also read where people put the recipe of one or two drinks out, and let the guests serve themselves.

We hired a margarita machine for the night and then filled a cooler with beer/wine/soft drinks and water. Another option is to take a 5 gallon water dispenser and mix your signature drink in it, and let people serve themselves. Just make sure it's labeled.

Hi Do you know someone who is a bartender and can get you a deal on the booze? I would check that out. I'm not sure how people would feel if they attended and had to pay at a bar at someone's house. I personally feel as though cash bars are kind of tacky, but that's just me. Maybe you could have basic wine and beer and one signature drink.

"Bart, with $10,000, we'd be millionaires! We could buy all kinds of useful things like...love!" --Homer Simpson

I think the other girls are on the right track - there are bartenders you can hire - usually through referrals - I know my mom has done that for a few parties - or signature drinks that can be made in a large quanitiy in a cool container for self serve.